Caribbean excellence is not rare, but recurring – PM Phillips declares at Sabga Awards

Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (Ret’d), Mark Phillips underscored the importance of recognising and celebrating the mastery emanating from the Caribbean, as Guyana once again hosted the Anthony N. Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence.
The 2026 laureates are Professor Tannecia Stephenson (Science & Technology), a Jamaican climate scientist honoured for her extensive research on regional climate modeling and extreme weather in the Caribbean; Shamelle Rice (Public & Civic Contributions), a Barbadian civic leader known for her advocacy, mentorship and community development work; Sheena Rose (Arts & Letters), a Barbadian contemporary visual artist celebrated for her multimedia works, which explore Caribbean identity, culture, and diaspora; Dean Nevers (Entrepreneurship), a Jamaican innovator and entrepreneur and Guyanese-American biotech innovator; Dr Niven R Narain, recognised for his pioneering work in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven therapeutics, oncology and biomarker discovery.

Delivering the keynote address at last evening’s ceremony at the Guyana Marriott Hotel Georgetown, the PM lauded the depth of the occasion and the strength, resilience and collective potential of Caribbean people. The ceremony, he added, stands as one of the region’s most distinguished celebrations of achievement and serves as an important reminder that “the Caribbean is not defined by limitation, but by greatness.” Reflecting on the question posed by beloved Guyanese musician, the late Dave Martins – “Where are your heroes, Caribbean?” – he answered: “The answer tonight is simple. They are right here. They are in this room. They are in our universities, our laboratories, our boardrooms, our clinics, our studios, our families, our farms and our communities. They are walking among us, often quietly, often without fanfare, but always with impact.” PM Phillips added that Caribbean excellence is not rare, but recurring, and pointed to the region’s history of survival, resilience, and endurance as part of the foundation for its success. He said Caribbean people have emerged from some of the most difficult chapters in human history, including slavery, colonial domination, indentured servitude, plantation economies, natural disasters and post independence struggles. “We are therefore, not accidental survivors. We are the descendants of resistance. We are the heirs of resilience. We are the embodiment of endurance. We are a people forged in struggle, but not defined by it,” the PM is quoted as saying in a release from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) on Sunday. He also reminded that education must remain a major factor in shaping the destiny of the Caribbean.
Learning, he explained, remains a path to liberation and a bridge to a better life. He further acknowledged the role of the wider community, including elders, religious leaders, neighbours and relatives – in guiding and shaping future generations.
PM Phillips added that the Caribbean’s size should not be viewed as a limitation, but as a defining strength that has fostered adaptability, resourcefulness and innovation across the region. “Because we are small, we are adaptable. Because we are small, we are resourceful. Because we are small, we learn to innovate where others rely on scale.” He also identified entrepreneurship as one of the region’s strongest assets, noting that Caribbean people have long demonstrated the ability to create, build and provide for themselves through small businesses, farming, market vending and other forms of enterprise. The Anthony N. Sabga Caribbean Awards, the PM added, matter deeply because it does more than honour individuals. He said the awards tell a regional story of the excellence that exists in the Caribbean. “It reminds us that we are not a people who have been left behind. We are a people who are contributing, building and leading.” Phillips urged the region to go beyond celebration by continuing to support, invest in and believe in its heroes and heroines, while noting that greatness often develops over time and may not always be immediately seen.
“We must understand that within the DNA of our Caribbean region lies a blueprint for excellence. It is encoded in our history. It is expressed in our culture. It is visible in our achievements. And it is waiting to be fully unleashed in future generations.”
During his congratulatory message to the awardees, Phillips stated that the ceremony serves as a reminder that Caribbean greatness is not a distant aspiration, but a present reality.